Ons Jabeur reveals emotional Andy Roddick message after Wimbledon loss - 'I was happy crying'
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Updated 15/08/2023 at 07:09 GMT
On her return to action at the Cincinnati Open, Ons Jabeur said she received a supportive message from Andy Roddick that had her in tears after her Wimbledon final defeat. Jabeur was beaten in straight sets by Marketa Vondrousova at SW19 in what was the third Grand Slam final loss of her career. She paid tribute to the support she has received since but said it was "still tough to take."
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On her first appearance in front of the media since her heartbreaking Wimbledon final loss to Marketa Vondrousova, Ons Jabeur detailed how a message from her idol Andy Roddick left her “happy crying” as she prepares to return to action in Cincinnati.
Jabeur, 28, admitted the defeat at SW19 is “still tough to think about” but said she hopes competing in the Cincinnati Masters will help her consign it to the past.
“I need to get back to tour and be able to move on,” Jabeur said in comments carried by WTATennis.com. “And the best thing is just to play tournaments, just to focus on what I'm doing and what I want to do.
“Definitely not giving up. That's something that I'm very sure about it, that I'm going to give my best. Every time I step on the tennis court it's going to be 100 per cent.”
Jabeur is one of the most popular players on tour and paid tribute to the outpouring of support she has received since her third Grand Slam final loss. Among those to reach out to the Tunisian was Roddick, who knows all too well what it feels like to come up just short at the All England Club, having finished runner-up to Roger Federer three times.
“I have more faith in you winning Wimbledon than I ever had in myself winning Wimbledon,” Roddick said. “Take a breath, take a minute, make sure you prepare, keep your fitness going.
“She's someone I really hope wins a Grand Slam title at some point.”
Jabeur admitted Roddick's message made her emotional, adding: “I was crying, happy crying. I appreciate that he took the time to write a good long message. I'm definitely talking to him when I see him probably at the US Open."
Jabeur plays Anhelina Kalinina in the first round in Cincinnati in the last event before the US Open gets underway on August 28. Jabeur will be fancied to make a good run at Flushing Meadows having reached the final last year and believes she has what it takes to get over the line in one of the sport's four marquee events.
"Rafa once said, 'If, if, if, doesn't exist'," Jabeur added. "So for me, 'If I did this, if I did that', I'm not going to focus with that. I'm just focusing on what's happening right now.
"Again, if it doesn't happen at the US Open, I'm not going to be sad about it. I'm just going to keep trying. If it's going to work, then great, if not, then I believe that's my destiny.
"What's supposed to happen to me, it's something I cannot change. That's the beauty of it when you believe in it.
"As long as I'm doing my best, as long as I'm doing 100 per cent, I think that's fair.
"I believe that I have the level to be a Grand Slam champion. I believe that I could be one of the greatest players. Everything takes time with me, unfortunately. Maybe it's a good thing. We never know.
"I'm just taking it one day at a time, trying to unlock things that maybe are too early for me to unlock, and maybe it's too early for me to know them yet. But I know that I'm going in the right way."
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